In the quiet village of Duggleby, to which the family had removed, he pursued the even tenour of his way. He was faithful and tender in all home relationships, thoughtful and generous to the poor, upright and consistent in all business transactions, sympathizing in every endeavour to do good, and untiring in personal labour for Christ. As a master he was ever kind and true, and sought the highest welfare of his servants,-like Boaz, who, as he entered the harvest-field, said, "The Lord be with you," while the reapers answered back, "The Lord bless thee." Morning and evening, through all the year, Mr. Spink gathered his family and servants for worship. He was a lover of good men, and "given to hospitality;" hence his house was ever “a preacher's home." He never sought honours from men, nor did he envy those who won them. He filled various and important offices with scrupulous fidelity and singular modesty; and always carried into his duties a generous, devout, and loving spirit. Never did his lips utter thought. less slander, or harsh judgments on his brethren: his delight was to converse upon the things of God, and his speech was always "with grace." He gladly denied himself enjoyments in order that he might the more generously aid the cause of Christ. It was his practice to visit the sick and sorrowing, and to circulate useful books and tracts. He dwelt among his own people, and was an example of punctual and regular attendance, both upon the social and the public ordinances of religion. Mr. Spink's character was marked by great gentleness, by genuine humility, by transparent sincerity, and by the strong love of truth and charity. Early in his religious life he realised the depth of the corruption of his own heart, and groaned for full redemption; and after a long and agonizing struggle, he obtained a clear and abiding assurance that enabled him to say, "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." In bearing testimony to the great doctrine of entire sanctification-" to the full power and perfect work of the Divine Spirit"-he was ever humble, reverently giving all praise to God, while the silent assertion of its truth in his life furnished its best evidence and defence. It was his habit, through many years, before closing his eyes in sleep, to realise a firm persuasion, that if it should prove the slumber of death, he would awake in heaven. He was emphatically " a man of God;" and, like Enoch, he "walked with God:" he did not only occasionally reach up to the height of devotion, but dwelt there, and had constant sunshine from the eternal Throne: in him a very well-spring of joy seemed ever to send forth abundant streams of deep and holy delight. "I am as happy," he would sometimes say, as I think it is possible for me to be in this life." He was, indeed, "blameless and harmless, a son of God, without rebuke;" and the light of his pure and simple life was full of blessing to those around. It was deeply interesting to trace, during Mr. Spink's last illness, the brave and patient struggling with advancing disease; the constant and tender thoughtfulness that strove to avoid giving anxiety and labour; the cheerful acquiescence in the Divine will; the unfaltering trust in God; and the perfect repose of his spirit in Christ as his all-sufficient and infinitely precious Saviour, which he evinced. He constantly testified to the enjoyment of perfect peace, and dwelt with profound and holy joy upon the words of Jesus, "I am the true Vine......as the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love." On the day of his death he said, "I have endeavoured to enter heartily into the duties of religion, and have been permitted to do many things for Christ; but, O! I feel how imperfectly they have been done. I am deeply humbled. I have no ground of trust but in Christ. I plead His precious blood: I rest in His merits; 'None but Christ to me be given ; None but Christ in earth or heaven!' O the precious blood of Christ; it cleanseth me from all sin!" A little later, to a friend who, bending over him, whispered, "Christ is very precious?" he replied, "Yes, He is;" and soon afterward calmly "fell on sleep." STEPHEN COx. RECENT DEATHS. OCTOBER 26th, 1873.-Mr. John Goodwin, of Kington, Herefordshire, aged sixty-nine. He was a native of Rhayader, and was born in the year 1804. In 1821 he came to reside in Kington, where he was in the employ of the late Mr. John Ingram, and where he became a regular attendant at the Wesleyan-Methodist chapel. Under the ministry of the late Rev. Charles Haime, in 1823, he entered the Methodist Society, and maintained a steadfast and consistent religious profession to the end of his life. For many years he filled the several posts of class-leader, Society-steward, and local preacher, with great fidelity and acceptance. His style of preaching was original and plain. He was a somewhat close reasoner, earnest, and fervid in his manner; and while setting forth Divine Truth it was apparent that his grand object was to bring sinners to repentance. When in health, neither rain nor wintry snow-storms, nor dark and dreary nights, prevented our departed brother from fulfilling his preaching-appointments. As a tradesman he was much and deservedly respected, being obliging, careful, and industrious,-rising early, and taking rest late. Those who had mercantile transactions with him, found he was punctual, correct, and of strict integrity: it may be justly said of him that he was an upright, honest man. friend he was faithful and sincere : he was not hasty in forming friendships, but was steadfast in maintaining them As a when formed. A pleasing trait in his character was that he always felt a pleasure in speaking well of those with whom he had to do, and in bringing out the best points in their character and conduct. He was a man of simple and primitive habits. Though modest and retiring in his manner, what duties he undertook he discharged with efficiency. As a husband he was thoughtful, attentive, and kind. The illness which proved fatal to him was very short, and his death almost sudden. From the nature of the attack he was un conscious, and therefore could not in his last moments testify to his friends and sorrowing relatives respecting the goodness of God to him: but the whole tenour of his life showed that the anchor of his soul was "sure and steadfast," cast" within the veil ;" and doubtless his end was perfect peace. Only three days previous to his being seized with illness, he preached in the chapel and to the people he so greatly loved; when it was remarked by some who were present that when "he got fairly into the subject he was more than usually fervid and impressive." On the next Sabbath he was an inhabitant of the realms of eternal bliss. "Who trusting in their Lord depart, Cleansed from all sin, and pure in heart, The bliss unmix'd, the glorious prize, They find with Christ in paradise." T. B. LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM NICHOLS, HOITON SQUARE. WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE. AUGUST, 1874. MEMOIR OF MR. JOHN VANNER, OF LONDON: BY HIS SON-IN-LAW, THE REV. GEORGE STRINGER ROWE. (Concluded.) A RECORD, giving the details of Mr. Vanner's business life, would, as a commercial study, possess very great interest. But, were it possible to construct such a record now, it could hardly claim insertion in these pages. And yet his business was as truly and thoroughly religious as his reading the Word of God and prayer. Those who knew him most intimately, and he was easily known, -never found a break in the sacredness of his living. Into the world he carried with him the straight rule of godly principle; and, whatever difficulties might arise, it never cost him a moment's question as to whether the rule could be in any way bent to fit a little better with circumstances. And hereby, of course, his lifecounsels were wondrously simplified, there being one imperial guiding-line through all which could not be turned; so that, like every faithful Christian, he was saved from the worrying perplexities which arise, the moment the straightness of the godly line is allowed to become debatable under the pleas of concession, or conventional usage, or expediency,-fair names by which trimming gets its unloveliness covered. At present we have seen this young artisan with no knowledge of his trade beyond a high degree of skill in its handicraft. But the idea soon began to form distinctly in his mind, that, as he was conscious of having powers over and above all the claims which the loom had ever yet made upon him, so he must seek to extend the ground of his enterprise. He had the sagacity to suspect, sometimes, that his employers, who gladly paid him well for his work, did not always read the demands of the market with entire wisdom; and, now and then, he thought he saw opportunity, if there were only the means, of securing an advantage which they had overlooked. Some of these discoveries, no doubt, turned out illusive; and then he was saved from loss, on that account, by want of the all-necessary resources to fit out a venture. A very few years after his marriage he dreamed that the firm for whom he worked had offered him the position of foreman. He VOL. XX.-FIFTH SERIES. 2 x |